The fact is that, although I have known that some of the sophistsThe term “sophist” is used loosely throughout the discourse, sometimes as the equivalent of wise man, but more often, as here, of a professional teacher of philosophy and oratory. See General Introd. p. xii, note a . traduce my occupation, saying that it has to do with writing speeches for the courts,See General Introd. p. xx, and note c . very much as one might have the effrontery to call Pheidias, who wrought our statue of Athena,The “gold and ivory” statue of Athena which stood in the Parthenon. a doll-maker, or say that Zeuxis and ParrhasiusZeuxis and Parrhasius sojourned in Athens about 400 B.C. practiced the same art as the sign-painters,Literally, painters of votive tablets set up in temples as thank-offerings for deliverance from sickness or from dangers on the sea. Cf. Tibullus 1.3.27-28: nunc, dea, nunc succurre mihi, nam posse mederi/picta docet templis multa tabella tuis. nevertheless I have never deigned to defend myself against their attempts to belittle me,